Using my tractor to tear down a barn

deanocraft · May 15, 2019

I have a Massey Ferguson 1529. It's awesome. I used to have an old barn, too. And then I introduced the tractor to the barn...

Now I am in the process of taking off the tin roof an burning the wood that I don't intend to salvage. I gave some of it away to friends, and I'll use a bit of it myself. The rest is heading to the burn pile. The barn was not particularly old, it was just poorly constructed and did not meet my needs. I intend to put a couple of 20' containers in it's place and then build a roof over the top.

The barn felling was the fun part so far!

goeduck · May 15, 2019

Nice job! I think it was the rocking in the seat on the early pulls that weakened the structure :thumbsup:

That roofing metal, while probably too bent to use on a roof, would make nice firewood cover.

Thomas · May 16, 2019

Now that's having to much fun.

I like putting chain about half way around the strap just in case the strap should break.

oosik · May 16, 2019

I first saw this property in 1948. The original homesteader still lived on this property and had several out building. A two story barn, a small garage for his model T, a sheep shed and a building for his chickens. By the time we moved onto the property( 1982 ) they had all collapsed. The original homestead house was torn down in 1954.

This condition proved to be a great advantage. I built my current PanAbode cedar home right where the original house had been and let the outbuildings slowly rot away.

From digging around where the old outbuildings had been, I found that the homesteader never found a spike that he didn't like.

Years ago I recognized that the "outbuilding area" was no place to take a tractor. Spikes & LARGE nails lie thick upon the ground in this area.

It's an area about 80' x 150' - no great loss. I still do anything needed in this area on foot.

CobyRupert · May 16, 2019

goeduck said:
Nice job! I think it was the rocking in the seat on the early pulls that weakened the structure :thumbsup:

Doesn't he know you're suppose to back up to the barn and then get a running start forward as fast as possible until the strap goes tight?

That's the problem with a cable or strap that's connects to the load higher than the connection on the tractor. The more you pull, the less traction you have. Until you're totally pulling with just the front tires.

k0ua · May 16, 2019

not to mention that a nice heavy ballast box on the rear of the tractor would have assisted in more traction to the rear tires.

deanocraft · May 16, 2019

Glad you enjoyed the video! I normally have a flail mower on the back this time of year, but I was afraid it would cause me problems hooking up to my drawbar... The posts, (logs), were stuck in the ground a few inches and that is why I was having trouble pulling at ground level. My buddy came up with the idea to hook the chains higher up and topple the whole thing over. I didn't really think that would work, but he was correct!

I told the wife I needed a shipping container, thinking she would never go for that idea. She forwarded this picture and suggested I get two! Needless to say, I married well and I am building something like this.

TXCOMT · May 16, 2019

deanocraft said:
Glad you enjoyed the video! I normally have a flail mower on the back this time of year, but I was afraid it would cause me problems hooking up to my drawbar... The posts, (logs), were stuck in the ground a few inches and that is why I was having trouble pulling at ground level. My buddy came up with the idea to hook the chains higher up and topple the whole thing over. I didn't really think that would work, but he was correct!

I told the wife I needed a shipping container, thinking she would never go for that idea. She forwarded this picture and suggested I get two! Needless to say, I married well and I am building something like this.View attachment 604966

Now that's funny...I looked at this same photo not more than a week ago! I just bought some land and figured this would make a perfect place to stash my new Branson and implements!

TXCOMT